Knockdown metal desk



Nov. 10, 1931. P. M. WEGE KNOCKDOWN METAL DESK Filed Nov. 8, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet "WWII" Imam r mm .wll-

KNOCKDOWN METAL DESK- Filed Nov. 8, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 llWIll INN 4% 1% 22 6 2 l6 1 8 l5 5 1a 2 6 Nov. 10, 1931. ,p, M, WEGE 1,831,471

KNOCKDOWN METAL DES K F iled Nov. 8, 1926 4'Sheets-Sheet 3 I lnuamov T E) 7g I /x "Mm s f; X f

Nov. 10, 1931. P. M. WEGE KNOCKDOWN METAL DESK Filed Nov. 8, 192 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnwmYov 11w mm 3;

Pa 4; QM Em y Patented Nov. 10, 1931 umgrsu STATES m orrrcn:

PETER M..W.EGE,. OE GRAND RARIDS,.;M1ZHIGAN, .ASSJIGNQR T0, METAL OFFICE FURNL' TURECOMBAINY, QE D; RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A OQR1 ORA,TION OE MICHIGAN' V xnocirnov'srrr nnsng Application filed November 8,1926, 7 Seri'aDN'o. 146,942.

This invention relates. to a knock down metal desk beingparticularly concerned with a very simple, practical. and economical con.- struction relating to desks or; similar: furnijj} tu-re, whereby the same, may be'shipped disassembled so as to. occupy smaller-spacethalr when assembled and which, when. it reaches its destination, maybevery quickly and easily assembled withoutthe use of tools other than, a screwdriver. This constructiomby means of which a ready assembly ordisassembly'of the parts making up the desk is: attained,is also very useful in case of moving, thev desk from one place to another where it is necessary to pass: through door openings of a width suehthat the desk does not readily go through.

It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to provide a knock down desk construction having many: novel features of construction so that quickand easy assembly or disassembly may be hadand which,whenit is onceassembled, isof astrong and rigid nature.

For an understanding of the invention whereby these ends, as well 'as: m-anyothers are attained, reference maybe'had to thefol lowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing-the-various parts ofthe desk which are to beassemb'led together, the same being separated-anddis+ assembled.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section on the plane of line 2-21-of Fig. 4*, looking upward against the underside of" the desk top. a

Fig. 3 is a partial rear elevation andhori zontal section illustrating the manner in which thedesk pedestal andtop-are appliedto each other. 7 a r Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. showing the parts illustrated in Fig. 3 in assembled relation, and I Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken-substantially on'the plane of line 55 of Fig-.4.

Fig. 6 is aview similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the invention when-it is used in constructing a. table.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section through one end of thetabl e look-v mg upward, against the underside of the top. Fig. 8 isa fragmentary vertical section sub.-

stantially on the plane. of line 8 8 of, Fig.7. 5,;

- Fig. 9 is: a View similar, to- Figs. 1 and -6, showing the-invention applied to a'table com bining features; of both a table and desk. 7 Fig. -10- is a fragmentary vertical section subfistantiallyon the plane of line 1010 of Fig. 1-1, and a Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section through. the desks. shown in Figs..9. and 10,

the plane of; the section being .below the top and. the View looking; upward" against the under side of'the top.

Like-referencecharacters referto likeparts inthe diiterent figures of the drawings.

I have heretofore made. application for p-atentfor alinol'euna covered. top for furni- 75,

ture now pending and having, Ser.. No. 121,169wvhich wasfiled duiy 12,1926; That tops structure lends itself readily to the. invention disclosed herein. In such top, structure ahorizontal metal plate 1 havinglength and width as desired for a desk, at its sides and ends is'turned underneath ,backwardly on itself, then formed intov U-shaped loops 2, a the metal being then extended downwardly as indicated at for a short distance and then turned. inwardly at right angles as at 4:, whereby in effect, channels-are made entirely" around the desk top and ateach side and end, the webs, of. said channels-being provided by thevertical. sections 3 and the flanges by the. under legs; of the loops 2. andthe flanges 4, as shown. The linoleum covering 5lies over the top. plate 1 and is retained by means of suitable borderistrips 6 which are. inserted in the U-shaped loops 2 as shown in Figs. 3, 4L and 5; This constructionof desk top per se doesnot form any of the subject matter of the present invention, being fully shown described and claimedin my earlierapplica tionto. which reference is made above. The desk pedestals include in their construct-ion front and rear outer posts 7 of sheet metaland front and rear inner posts 8 also of sheet metal and identical in construe tion with the posts 7. Panels 9 and '10 exin Fig. 2. At the front suitable cross bars 11 extend between the front edge portions of the side panels 9 and 10, shown in Fig. 2 so as to define the opening for the drawers 40 and for the usual slide 41 which is located near the upper end of a desk pedestal.

At the outer side and near the upper edge of the panel 9 of each of the pedestals used in a desk, an angle iron 42 is permanently secured by spot welding or equivalent means, the same being disposed horizontally and having an outwardly extending horizontal flange 13. This angle bar lies between the outer posts 7 of each desk pedestal.

At the inner side of eachdesk pedestal and at the upper end thereof an angle bar 43 is locatedhaving a vertical flange 14, a horizontalfiange 15 and at each end of one of said flange. preferably the vertical flange 14, is turned at right angles making the vertical end portions 16. This angle bar is secured to the inner posts 8 of the desk pedestal and the end 16 at the front lies in the same plane with the front side of the post 8 while at the rear it lies slightly within the plane of the outer side ofthe post 8 for a purpose which will later appear. The attachment of the angle bar to the posts 8 is by spot welding or any equivalent means for permanently securing the same together. Beloweach of the angle members thus described at the inner side of each desk pedestal a second angle member 44 is secured, lying against the panel 10 to which it is spot welded and having a horizontally projecting leg 17,'as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

To the under side of the top plate 1 reinforcing channels 18 of sheet metal are per manently secured. These also serve to properly space the top plate 1 above the upper ends of the desk pedestals and are further of utility for attaching the top in place as will later appear.

In the assembly of the construction thus far described a desk pedestal and the top may be placed together, the'flange 4 at one end of the top passing underneath the flange 13 as shown in Fig. 3. Before this is done a channel member or bar 19 is disposed in each side of the top above the flanges 4and below the U-shaped loops 2, this being best shown in Fig. 5. When the top is applied to the pedestal, as indicated in Fig. 3, and then brought down to horizontal position. as shown in Fig. 4, the end 16which lies flush with the front side of the post 8 comes against the web of the adjacent channel 19 and a screw 20 is passed through the said end 16 and threaded through theweb of the channel. Likewise the horizontal flanges 15 of the angle bars 43 come directly underneath the webs of the reinforcing channels 18 and screws 21 are passed upwardly through said flanges 15 into screw threaded openings in the webs of the channels 18. Both pedestals may be applied to the top in this manner. lVhile in Fig. 3 the top is shown as being applied to the upper end of a pedestal, in practice the top is laid on the floor with the linoleum covering 5 down and the pedestal turned so that its upper end is down and then applied to the top. And after the assembly is complete the desk is merely righted to position. This is for the reason that the application of the screws 20 and 21 is easier in this manner than it is to get down underneath the top and between the pedestals if the desk is assembled with the top upon the upper ends of the desk pedestals, as shownin Fig. 3.

- The well between the two pedestals at the back is normally partially closed at its upper endat least, and some times for its entire height by a panel or plate; and in the present structure I have shown a plate of sheet metal 22 formed with a forwardly turned lower flange 23. The upper edge of the plate 22 is placed between the web of the adjacent channel 19 and the rear ends 16 made on the angle members having the legs 14 and 15 so that the screws 20 used at this place pass through said rear ends 16, the plate 22, and into the web of the channel 19. The lower flange 23 comes underneath the horizontal flanges 17 of the angle bars 44 and screws 24 pass upwardly through the flange 23 into the said flanges 17. The flanges 17 serveas drawer supports and guides while the plate 22 closes the back of the central drawer compartment in the desk, a central drawer between the two desk pedestals isalmost universally used in desk constructions. V

Merely removing screws 20, 21 and 24 permits a disassembly of the top from the desk pedestals and the plate 22 is also freed at the same time. The construction may be very quickly disassembled should it ever be necessary'to do so and it is evident that by reason of this simple and practical method of desk assembly the parts of the desk may be shipped so as to occupy the least possible space. 1 When the destination is reached they are Very rapidly assembled all that is required being a screw driver to drive the screws 20, 21 and 24. The flanges 4 at the ends of the top passing'the screws 20, and 21 bind the parts very rigidly and securely together so that the desk, when assembled, is as rigit as though welded at the points where the screws are used.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I have shown the invention applied in connection with a table. The top is of exactly the same construction as previously described but in place of the desk pedestals, and supports are provided which consist of posts 7 a, spaced apart, and located one at each end of an end panel of sheet metal, which includes two spacedapart sides 25 with end portions which bear against the inner sides of the posts 7a. At each end oft-he panel and above the upper end of each post a bar 26 is secured by welding or-in any other suitable permanent manner which extends inwardly under the top so as to lie against the webs of the channelmembers 19. vSubstantially midway between the edges of the panel a Z-bar 27- islocated, secured to the web of which is a similar inwardly extending bar 28. On the adjacent channel reinforcing rib 18 a flat bar 29 is permanently secured so that the two bars 28 and 2 9 lie along side of each other when the ends are assembled with the top.

The table is completed bytwo side members 30 of sheet metal, each of which at each end is formed with an inturned flange, 31 and it also may be provided with an inturned flange at its lower edge. In the assembly ofthe parts, the outwardly extending flanges 13 of they angle bars which are attached at the upper ends of the posts at each end of the table, lie over the lower flanges 4 of the channel like'ends of the table top, the bars '28 at each end of the construction lic against the bars 29 on the channel reinforcing rib 18,

and the bars 28 come against the webs of the channel members 19. .The side members 30 are located between the ends of the'construction and underneath the top, coming against the bars 26 while the flanges 31 lie against the inner sides 25 of the panels at the ends of said construction. Screws 32 are passed through the members30 and bars 26 into the webs of the channel members 19. Screws 33 are passed through the flanges 31 into the inner sides of the panels and screws 34- through the bars 28 and bars 29. This makes a very rigid and secure connection but one which may be very readily made byanyone using only a screwdriver. The same simplicity of assembly and disassembly is present in this construction as in the desk construction first described. The parts-used to make up the table may be equipped in diassembled form so as to occupy little space and when the designation is reached they can be very rapid- 1y assembled; and with this construction, as with the desk construction previously described, disassembly is quickly accomplished should it ever be necessary.

In Figs. 9, 10, and 11 a. still further form of construction is illustrated wherein the invention is utilized. In this case the top and the ends are identical in construction with that shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. However, each end is utilized to support drawers and this is done by attaching to the end panels 25 supportingmembers of right angle form indicated at 25a which extend inwardly from each of the panels 25 and are then turned upwardly, this making a space in which the drawersand usual slideabove them may be mounted. The bars 26Land-28 are used the sameas inthe construction shown in Figs. 6, Tand 8 while the angle bars having flanges .14 and loand the ends 16, which in the first described construction are secured at the inner side of'the desk pedestals, are attached at the upper ends and inner sides'of the supporting members 25a. The drawer guides 17 are also attached to this'member. At the back in place of a depending narrow plate 30 a Wider plate 300; is used having end flanges 31a which extends farther down but which is attached by means of screws 32 and 33 the same as the side 30 is attached in the construction shown: in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. It is also further secured by=the screws 20 passing throu h it and the rear ends 16 of the angle bars described and thence. into the'channels 19. This construction utilizes all of the fea- 5 tures of ready detachability and easy assem bly and disassembly that are present in the other constructions and embodies the same inventive ideas and constructions, and has'all of the advantages thereof.

The economy in manufacture. is a very marked and valuable feature of this invention. The assembly of a desk or a table takes but a few moments and is devoid of any troublesome employment of skilled workmen for assembly purposes. This permits shipment with an assurance that the desk can be readily assembled by anyone when it reaches its destination. All of these features combine to make the invention one of great prac- .100 tical value. The appended claims define said invention which is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope. i ":Iclaim: p

1; In a construction of the class described, a-horizontal top formed at each sideand end witha depending, channel portion having inwardly extendingflanges, desk pedestals located under the top, a horizontal'bar attached to each pedestal at its upper end and outer side extending outwardly over the lower flange of the channel at each end of said top, a second horizontal bar secured at the upper end and inner side of each pedestal, longitudinal bars located in the channels at each side of the top, and means for detachably connecting said-longitudinal bars and the ends ofsaid second horizontal bars. I

= -2.-A desk construction comprising, spaced apart pedestals, an angle bar attached at the upper end and outer .side of each pedestal having an outwardly extending horizontal flange, aseoond angle bar attached at the upper end andinner side of'each pedestal talsysaid top at-each side andend having a depending channel form with inwardly extending flan es, the flanges of theangle bars at the outer sides o t-the pedestals passing over he lower flanges of the end channels of said top, burs located within the side channels of the top, and means passing through the said end parts ot the second mentioned bars, said bars located within the channelled sides of the top to thereby securely hold the top and pedestals together.

A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 2, combined with screws passing through the horizontal flanges of said angle bars at the inner sides of the pedestals, and a reinforcing bar-located lengthwise of and connected to the underside of said top said screws threadedly engaging the reinforcing bar.

a. A desk comprising, spaced apart desk pedestals. a horizontal bar attached at the upper end and outer side of each pedestal eX- tending outwardly therefrom, an angle bar located horizontally and secured at the upper end and inner SlClG'Of each pedestal having an upper horizontal flange lying in the same plane with the upper end of the pedestals and a vertical flange secured to each pedestal, and an end at each end of the barlocated in aplane at right angles to said flanges, a second angle bar disposed et the inner side of each pedestal horizontally, below the first angle bar and having an inwardly extending horizontal flange, a top located over said pedestals provided at itssides and ends with depending channel formation, the flanges of which extend inwardly, the first mentioned bars at the outer sides of the pedestals passing over the lower flanges of the channels at the ends of said top, channel bars located within the channel-like sides of the top, screws passing through the ends of the first mentioned angle bars into the channel bar at the front of the desk, a vertical plate formed with a forwardly extending flange at its lower edge located between the rear endsof the first mentioned angle bars and the channel bar at the rear side of the desk, screws passing through the rear ends of said first mentioned angle bars, said plate and into the rear channel bar, screws detachably connecting the lower forwardly turned flange of said plate with the horizontal flanges of the second mentioned angle bars, reinforcing bars disposed horizontally beneath and connected to said top longitndinallv thereof, and screws passing through the horizontal flanges of the first mentioned angle bars into said'reinforcing bars, substantially as described.

5. In a construction of the class described, spaced apart vertical top supports, a top located thereover having depending channellilre sides and ends, means at the outer sides of the supports engaging over the lower flanges of the channel-like ends of thejtop,

longitudinal members located lengthwise of and within the depending channel-like sides of the top, membersextending inwardly from and connected to said supports at-their up per ends, and screws passing through said members and threading into openings made in said longitudinal members.

6. In a construction of the class described,

a horizontal top formed at each side andend with a depending channel portlon having inwardly extending'flanges, desk pedestals located under the top, a horizontal bar attached to each pedestal at its upper end and outer side extending outwardly over and engaging T upper end and outer side of each pedestal ia'ving an outwardly extending flange, asec ond angle bar attached at the upper end and inner side of each pedestal having a horizontal flange, the upper side of which is in the same plane with the upper ends of the podestals, a top located over and resting on said pedestals, said top at each side and end having a depending channel form with inwardly extending flanges, the flanges of the angle bars at the outer sides of the pedestals passing over the lower flanges of the end channels of said top, bars located within the side channels of the top, and means adapted to fasten the bars located within the channelled sides of the top to the pedestals.

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PETER M. WEGE.

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